Leading Pizza Franchise on Pace for 28% Rise in Year-over-Year Openings
Marco’s Pizza opened 41 new locations during the first half of this year. If the leading pizza franchise maintains this momentum, it will achieve a 28% year-over-year jump in store openings, according to information from Marco’s Pizza headquarters.
Gerardo Flores, chief development officer, said the company started the year with a strategic plan for cultivating growth. The plan has a combined focus on real estate, multi-unit ownership, international growth and an empowering culture that aids communities as well as Marco’s franchisees. “That pipeline is now turning into stores,” Flores stated. “The potential of our model and the power of our culture create an opportunity to grow with a brand that’s not just expanding but doing so the right way.”
Marco’s Pizza Franchise Growth Strategy
Leaders of the Marco’s Pizza franchise explain how the four key pillars of their strategic plan have led to the desired growth.
- Real estate priority. Joe Stephens, who has spent 13 years with the brand, returned as vice president of real estate this year. Stephens offers well-honed real estate advice that includes helping franchisees with site selection. In choosing store sites, Marco’s deviates from traditional criteria by leveraging technology – specifically predictive tools and data from consumer behavior insights. The company says its tech-forward strategy identifies potentially untapped markets. Leaders of the Marco’s Pizza franchise have stated they’re doubling down on innovative technology tools to aid franchise growth and support franchisees.
- Multi-unit franchisees. Existing franchisees are bullish on the brand, and they accounted for nearly two-thirds of franchise agreements signed in 2024. To encourage multi-unit ownership, the Marco’s Pizza franchise launched a program that offers early-stage royalty incentives starting at zero percent to qualified owners*. Revenue also entices: the top 25% of Marco’s franchise locations have an average unit volume (AUV) of $1.3 million, according to its Franchise Disclosure Document**.
- Global growth. Marco’s observed two significant international anniversaries in 2025, as noted in its midyear report. Its first Mexico location marked one year in operation; Marco’s Puerto Rico presence reached the 10-year milestone. Marco’s Mexico team, led by Grup Pizza Amantes SA de CV, a 50-unit master franchise partner, should have at least three, and possibly four locations, open in Mexico by the end of this year. Marco’s operates 66 locations across the Bahamas, Mexico and Puerto Rico, and it aims for further growth in Canada and Latin America.
- Supportive culture. The Marco’s Pizza franchise empowers its owners and their communities. For instance, Marco’s is scaling its We’re Golden development program, system-wide training that assists franchisees with building an in-store culture rooted in hospitality, opportunity and personal growth. Marco’s has set a goal of training franchisees in We’re Golden across 700 stores by the end of this year.
The Marco’s Pizza Foundation represents another example of the brand’s commitment to a nurturing culture. The foundation’s causes are school and education, hunger prevention, workforce development, and entrepreneurship. In April, the foundation announced a $317,000 donation to Junior Achievement USA, a nonprofit that educates young people about work readiness, financial literacy and entrepreneurship. (That amount has since increased, now topping $530,000.) Stephanie Moseley, president of the Marco’s Pizza Foundation and a multi-unit franchisee, said Marco’s and its foundation are “proud to invest in the next generation of business leaders and to see our franchisees and customers embrace this mission with heart and purpose.”
How Marco’s Stacks Up
The Marco’s Pizza franchise is positioned well within the restaurant sector of the American economy. The U.S. market exceeded $50 billion in 2023, according to Statista.com. Marco’s Pizza has distinguished itself from the competition with various honors – ranking No. 49 on Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500 roster in 2025, making QSR magazine’s list of Top 50 fast-food restaurants in 2025, and placing among Nation’s Restaurant News’ Top 500.
Marco’s is known for its from-scratch dough and three fresh signature cheeses. Its menu also offers pizza bowls, handheld pizzolis, sub sandwiches, salads, wings, breadsticks and more.
The brand was founded in 1978 by Pasquale “Pat” Giammarco, and the first franchise was sold in 1979. Today the Toledo, Ohio-based brand has more than 1,200 domestic stores in 35 states, plus the 66 in the Bahamas, Mexico and Puerto Rico.
To Learn More
Entrepreneurs interested in getting their piece of the pie can find additional information about franchise opportunities with the brand by visiting the Marco’s Pizza website.
*The information provided in this article should not be construed as an offer to sell any Marco’s Pizza® franchises in, nor is any such communication directed to, the residents of any jurisdiction requiring registration of the franchise before it is offered and sold in that jurisdiction. Currently, the following states regulate the offer and sale of franchises: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. Marco’s Pizza® franchises will not be sold to any resident of such jurisdiction until the offering has been exempted from the requirements of, or duly registered in and declared effective by, such jurisdiction and the required franchise disclosure document (if applicable) has been delivered to the prospective franchisee before the sale in compliance with applicable law. To qualify for the incentive program, the participant must sign a development agreement and open the stores within the following timeframes: 1st store within 365 days of signing; 2nd store within 6 months of 1st store opening; 3rd store within 6 months of 2nd store opening; 4th store within 6 months of 3rd store opening; 5th store within 6 months of 4th store opening. Additionally, the participant must meet financial, creditworthiness, and operational criteria to qualify for the incentive program and be approved by us to open each Store. If the franchisee is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other legal entity, the qualifying participant must maintain at least 50% ownership in the entity, as well as the qualifying existing stores, to qualify for this program, and the franchisee must comply with program requirements. In the event the participant fails at any time to meet the timelines to qualify for the applicable incentive program while developing a store, the store being developed and any remaining unopened stores to be developed will pay the then-current standard royalty fee rate. See Marco’s Franchising’s Franchise Disclosure Document for more information.
***Based on the average sales volume of the top-performing 25% (or 239 units) of Marco’s Pizza franchised stores that were open during the 2024 fiscal year. Of the 955 franchised stores that were in operation for the entire 2024 fiscal year, 239 were included in the top 25% set and 40% obtained or surpassed the average sales volume. This information excludes (i) international locations (including Puerto Rico); (ii) franchised stores not open for the entire 52-week period in 2024; (iii) special venue and non-traditional franchised locations; and (iv) franchised stores that closed in 2024. See Item 19 of our 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document for additional information. Individual results may differ. There is no assurance that any franchisee will perform as well.
